Manuela Nicolosi, 45, has officiated more than 200 professional matches across men's and women's football during her career, and has even been named in Fortune Italia's 50 Most Powerful Women. Nicolosi has two degrees, has worked in Europe, America, and Asia, and speaks four languages. Boasting an impressive CV, having officiated at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, she became the first Italian to be part of the refereeing team for a Women's World Cup final in 2019. But her rise to the top has been anything but smooth sailing. According to Nicolosi, her appearance has proved a major obstacle in the 'male-dominated world' of football. Former FIFA assistant referee who officiated the UEFA Super Cup Chelsea vs Liverpool reveals she's been told to tone down her 'attention-attracting' looks after 'attracting too much attention'.
- What sacrifices did you make to pursue your dream of being a referee?
- I gave up a lot of money and a managerial job at a Big Four. I was a manager at a consulting giant, responsible for EU finance, and meanwhile I was a referee out of passion. I was in Serie C, earning €150 per match, plus an expense allowance. Then I had to choose.
- What happened?
- Before my second World Cup, my Italian boss called me and said: your refereeing is causing jealousy, so you have to leave tomorrow. It was as if he'd taken my heart out without anesthesia.
- What did you do?
- I quit my job and followed my dream.
- How did your passion for football begin?
- At 4 years old, my dad took me to the Olimpico to watch Lazio. It was a unique experience. Discovering that footballers could make the fans rejoice, cry, scream, and suffer like that made me fall in love: I wanted to make people dream like that, too.
- But?
- At home, I dribbled and played with the ball as often as I could. My dad was clear from the beginning: you can't play football; you must play a girl's sport.
- Your dad had the opportunity to change his mind over the years?
- Unfortunately, he died in a car accident when I was 16. He saw me referee two games; however, and he accepted my decision. In 2019, when I was assistant referee in the UEFA Super Cup between Chelsea and Liverpool, I whispered to the heavens: Dad, I've reached the top.
- Football is a male-dominated world, isn’t it?
- Absolutely, yes. In fact, I left Italy at 20 because I realized they didn't want female referees. They let you reach a certain level, the regional one, and then they put a spike in your wheels in every way. The observers' yardstick is different than before. I spent six months on Erasmus, then, when I came back to Italy, it was worse than before. So, I left for France, where I reached the highest levels in the world.
- Have you ever felt afraid on the pitch or in the locker room?
- I was a referee in the Lazio Eccellenza league, and at the end of a match I barricaded myself in the locker room. The coaches and managers of a team were yelling at me, 'We'll kill you, get out!' I called the police, who escorted me out. I remember it as if it were yesterday.
- Referees are always victims of violence.
- It all starts with the parents of young players. The kids want to have fun, but often the dads from the stands encourage them to hurt the opponent. 'Break his leg, kill him,' I've heard. Once I had to stop a match because the families were fighting. But the worst part is the mothers who, just to be part of the pack, become violent.
- Has your physical appearance been an advantage in refereeing?
- No, on the contrary. All my superiors told me: you must be less visible, you attract too much attention. In France, one year I wasn't promoted from Serie C to Serie B because I was too 'visible.' I was on the verge of giving up. Technical errors or failed fitness tests are one thing. But for them to stop me by telling me ‘You’re flashy,' no.
- Did any players make advances?
- It happened, but I never gave in. I'm not the type who dreamed of getting engaged to a footballer. On the pitch, if I was facing Mbappé or Salah, it was the same for me.
- Which referee have you admired the most?
- Pierluigi Collina, the best.
- Would it be fair to equalize salaries for men and women?
- It's a marketing issue: in Spain they've invested a lot in women's football and they're getting significant returns. There were 92,000 people watching Barcelona-Real Madrid. At a World Cup, the commitment between men and women is equal, so why does a man earn 40,000 euros and a woman a third?
- Were you nervous before Liverpool vs. Chelsea?
- Before the Super Cup, we arrived at the stadium by bus, passing through a sea of people waiting for the teams. My heart was pounding.
- What do you remember about that match?
- I called four offsides in a row against Olivier Giroud. He came up to me and said, 'Are you done?'
- What's the biggest mistake you have made on the pitch?
- I was in Serie B in France, and that match was a promotion to Serie A. My boss was there watching, but instead of focusing on the match, I focused on him. In injury time, I allowed a decisive goal, but, in reality, there was a foul. As a consequence, I waited two years for promotion.
- Have you ever been harassed?
- Yes, but I'd rather not talk about it. I've never given up, which is why it took me so long to advance.
Source: Quotidiano Sportivo
